A Centralia man arrested for violating a post-conviction no-contact order and assaulting his ex-wife could spend life in prison after being charged with three felonies and one gross misdemeanor in Lewis County Superior Court on Aug. 21.
Trinidad E. Lopez Jr., 32, faces four total counts of second-degree assault, domestic violence; first-degree burglary, domestic violence; violation of a court order (first or second violation); and violation of a court order.
The first-degree burglary, domestic violence, charge is considered a class A felony, punishable by up to life in prison and $50,000 in fines.
According to court documents, a Centralia police officer responded to a report of a protection order violation at a local apartment complex around 2 a.m. Aug. 20.
Upon arriving at the residence, the officer spoke with a woman who reportedly had marks on her neck. Her thumb was bleeding. She was Lopez’s ex-wife.
Though initially uncooperative, the woman eventually admitted that Lopez had been staying at the residence for about a week, according to court documents. The protection order, however, prohibited Lopez from coming within 1,000 feet of his ex-wife or her residence.
The woman stated that she and Lopez had an argument that night. Lopez packed his belongings while she stood at the front door.
According to court documents, “Trinidad suddenly grabbed her from behind, put her in a chokehold, and choked her for several seconds, making it difficult for her to breathe.”
Lopez allegedly threw the woman to the floor, bruising both of her knees.
Officers contacted the suspect at approximately 8:30 a.m. that day. The victim was reportedly able to describe the clothing Lopez was wearing.
Lopez was convicted of second-degree assault, domestic violence, against the same victim on May 6 of this year. He was sentenced to three months in confinement with 62 days of credit for time served and 12 months of community custody.
Lopez was also ordered to participate in treatment or counseling services for domestic violence. The post-conviction no-contact order protecting his ex-wife is valid until May 6, 2035.
She filed for divorce days after the sentencing.
The Chronicle previously reported that the victim called 911 at approximately 12:18 a.m. on March 5 to report that her husband had choked her when she tried to take his keys.
According to court documents, Lopez initially denied strangling his wife but said he grabbed her wrist to get the keys “because she was keeping them from him.”
During the preliminary hearing on Thursday, Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher asked for a bail of $500,000 cash or bond, citing the alleged violation of the existing no-contact order, along with the alleged repeated assault against the same victim.
He called the threat risk “severe.”
Judge J. Andrew Toynbee said he understood the state’s reasoning, but didn’t think Lopez’s criminal history justified that high of a bail. Instead, Toynbee set bail at $100,000 cash or bond, calling it “still a great deal of bail” and sufficient in this case.
Though Donald Blair was originally assigned to represent Lopez, Lopez stated during the hearing that he did not want Blair to represent him. Blair served as Lopez’s attorney in the previous case concerning the victim.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller said she didn’t have a problem changing the attorney assignment at this phase, and assigned Albert Didcock to the case.
An arraignment and trial setting is scheduled for Aug. 28.
